State Police declines request to investigate Elkhart police

November 20, 2018

ELKHART, Ind. (AP) — State Police have declined to investigate Elkhart’s police department following reporting which revealed that two police officers allegedly beat a handcuffed man.

State Police spokesman Capt. David Bursten said Monday the agency would not participate in the criminal case against officers Cory Newland and Joshua Titus, or in the broader review of Elkhart police requested by Mayor Tim Neese.

Bursten suggested that Neese instead approach the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Elkhart’s police.

Both officers face one misdemeanor battery count for allegedly tackling and repeatedly punching Mario Guerrero Ledesma in the face for spitting toward Newland.

Reporting by the South Bend Tribune and ProPublica uncovered Ledesma’s beating and also revealed that nearly all of the department’s police supervisors have been disciplined or suspended at some point in their careers.